Be Empathetic

Despite shedding many tears during the past few weeks, I have had some precious moments with friends in response to the reoccurring and brutal killings of black men, at the hand of law enforcement. These kinds of conversations are very delicate, but they all came about because someone cared enough to ask me “How are you feeling?” or simply stated “I am here if you want to talk”. Their reactions were often gasping as I gave them a peek into my life as a black woman in this country. It was my prayer to open their eyes and hearts to the injustices, prejudices, and racism that I endure every single day.

Have you ever had your heart broken? Me too. Have you ever misplaced your keys & been late to work? Me too. What about forgetting a loved one’s birthday? Yep, done that before. Have you been on the highway, forgot where you were headed and missed your exit? Ditto. Have you ever stood over your sleeping child & cried because they are a precious gift? Oh yeah, me too. While we have some common experiences, there are some that I have solely because I am Black, and you cannot fully understand my painful truths. However, you can be sensitive to my feelings, try to imagine, have compassion for me and all that I have endured.

Being empathetic sounds simple enough but is harder than you realize. How many times have you been asked to “put yourself in someone else’s shoes?” People often state this in hopes to help you understand, and just maybe you won’t be so quick to judge. I remember as a young girl, dressing up in my mother’s clothes, draping on her pearls and playing with shoes. I would stuff socks in the toes and stumble around in those high heels. I almost broke my neck a few times trying to walk in her steps. And I wondered, how does she do it? Elvis Presley said in a song, “If you could be me for just one hour. If you could see through my eyes, instead of your ego. I believe you would be surprised to see that you’ve been blind. Walk a mile in my shoes. Before your abuse, criticize and accuse, walk a mile in my shoes.

There have been a lot of protest, a lot of marches, too much provoking media and a whole lot of misinformation. In our community, we held a Solidarity Walk, followed by a Prayer Vigil, and much to my surprise, there was a lot of diversity. Young and old. Several races represented. Different economic backgrounds. I dare even say across party lines. Neighbors walked side by side in unity.Together. Not just here in the States, but across the globe. This demonstrates that people have compassion, and they could sympathize over the cruel, inhumane, senseless, and tragic loss of Mr. Floyd’s life, and those of others. Dr. Martin Luther King said that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.

What does empathy look like? A young girl in our community could not attend the organized Walk, but she wanted to help in some way. She made a wearable donation acknowledging that she was sympathetic to the Black Lives Matter campaign. Pictured are her mask she designed for the teen organizers to wear at the event.

Attitude Adjustment

In a world full of people who could care less about what others are going through, try to Be Empathetic. Be someone who couldn’t care more. Try seeing with the eyes of another. Try listening with the ears of another. Try feeling with the heart of another. Shift your attitude and extend yourself to a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, or a relative. It’s as simple as a conversation, go have a few.